📷 Photo by Dillon Austin on UnsplashMackinac Bridge
Mackinaw City, MI
A five-mile suspension bridge linking Michigan's two peninsulas. Ferries to car-free Mackinac Island leave nearby.
The Mackinac Bridge spans the Straits of Mackinac between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, linking Michigan's two peninsulas. Opened on November 1, 1957, it is about 8 km (5 miles) long in total and is considered the longest two-tower suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. The main span measures 1,158 m (3,800 feet), and the towers rise 168 m (552 feet) above the water. Applying lessons from the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, it was given deep stiffening trusses and an open-grid roadway to cope with wind.
The bridge carries Interstate 75 and charges a toll. If you are afraid of heights, a driver from the bridge authority's assistance program can take your car across for you; more than a thousand people use it every year. On Labor Day, the first Monday in September, the Bridge Walk takes place – the only day of the year when the bridge can be crossed on foot.
- Nearest town
- Mackinaw City, MI
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 45.8174, -84.7278
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Tee Pee CampgroundsMotorhome stopover4 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsMotorhomes
- Tiki RV ParkMotorhome stopover4 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsMotorhomesElectricityToiletsWaste disposal
- Castle Rock CamparkMotorhome stopover6 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsMotorhomesElectricityToiletsWaste disposal
- Roberts Landing CampgroundMotorhome stopover9 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsMotorhomes
- Wilderness State Park CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Wilderness State Park Pines CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Mackinac BridgeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
All campsites in Michigan · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Mackinac Bridge?
Mackinac Bridge is in Mackinaw City, MI, at GPS 45.8174, -84.7278. It is about 3 mi from St. Ignace.
Can you camp near Mackinac Bridge?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Straits State Park Semi Modern Waterfront, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 28 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Mackinac Bridge?
Mackinac Bridge is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lake Michigan's dune coast and Tunnel of Trees and Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula.
What is there to see near Mackinac Bridge?
Places worth a stop nearby: Colonial Michilimackinac (2 mi), Fort Mackinac (6 mi), Arch Rock (6 mi) and Tunnel of Trees (M-119) (26 mi).
When is the best time to visit Mackinac Bridge?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)